Box Score | Text Message AlertsMYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Senior Kristina Weltzin threw a complete game shutout and junior Morgan Ten Eyck provided the only run of the game as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) softball team defeated Keystone College, 1-0, this morning. With the win, the Engineers improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Giants open 2015 at 0-1.Weltzin (Commerce Town, MI/Walled Lake Northern) picked up her second win in as many starts, allowing just two hits (both singles) over 7.0 innings. She struck out five and walked two. Keystone senior righthander Karisa Worobey (Scranton, PA/Scranton) suffered the tough-luck loss, surrendering just one run on four hits over 6.0 innings. She had a strikeout and two walks.
Both pitchers took no-hitters into the fourth inning, and it was the Giants who were the first to break through, as senior Sara Schraden (Allentown, PA/William Allen) reached on a two-out single. Weltzin was able to get out of the inning, however, getting sophomore shortstop Antonette Scialpi (Hughestown, PA/Pittston Area) to ground out to second.
The Engineers picked up their first base hit in the bottom of the inning, when sophomore
Courtney McArthur doubled with two away, but she was thrown out trying for third to end the inning.
Following a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, Rensselaer mounted a rally in the bottom half, loading the bases with two away. Freshman
Kacie Herity (Chesterfield, NJ/Northern Burlington) reached on an error to open the frame. After a flyout, senior
Kathleen Baker (Airmont, NY/Suffern) singled, putting runners on first and second. Another flyball out was followed by a walk to freshman
Devan Puhl (Frederick, MD/Linganere), which filled the bases for junior catcher
Taylor Ten Eyck (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland). Ten Eyck then got under one to center, to end the threat.
Keystone came up with its most dangerous half inning in the top of the sixth, beginning with a one-out single off the bat of Worobey. Two wild pitches allowed her to move all the way to third with two outs and a walk sophomore centerfielder Emily Long (Shamokin, PA/Lourdes Regional) put runners on the corners. Welzin was able to pitch out of trouble, inducing a flyout from Schraden.
RPI broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth, when junior
Morgan Ten Eyck (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) homered with one out in the inning.
Weltzin retired the Giants in order in the top of the seventh to secure the victory. Worobey was 1 for 2, while Schraden finished 1 for 3. Senior Jen Servidone (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) and McArthur were both 1 for 3 for the Engineers.
Rensselaer faces Mount Saint Vincent later today (11:30am), while Keystone takes on SUNY New Paltz (11:30am).
